Top 25 Overview WEEK 4 2008Source: ESPN - Overview of all Top 25 Teams for the fourth week of the season, including Recap, Box Score, Play-by-Play, Drive Chart, Photos

Check out all of the polls on our Polls, Rankings & BCS page...link below

Mr. Bucknuts' Bucket Of BulletsSeptember 21, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "Mr. Bucknuts has now digested the Troy game and now spits out his observations on that affair plus some odd stuff concerning Glenville, punting, quarterbacks, wide receivers that never played and a warning to play nice in another erratic-but-fresh Bucket of Bullets..."

E-mail the Troy postgame section in HTML format

TROYvs.OHIO STATE

Buckeyes Defeat Troy, 28-10 September 20, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "Freshman Terrelle Pryor made his first collegiate start a memorable one by throwing four touchdown passes to lead No. 13 Ohio State to a 28-10 victory over Troy in front of 102,989 fans at Ohio Stadium...Getting the starting nod over senior Todd Boeckman, who had started the last 16 games for Ohio State, Pryor played virtually the entire game while setting an Ohio State freshman record with his four touchdown passes. His scores went to Rory Nicol (covering 13 yards), two to Brian Hartline (37 and 16 yards) and to Brian Robiskie (38 yards). For the game, Pryor was 10-for-16 for 139 yards with one interception in addition to the four touchdown passes. He also rushed for 66 yards. Dan “Boom” Herron led Ohio State in rushing for the third-consecutive game with 94 yards off 20 carries..."

Postgame Quotes From No. 13 Ohio State vs. Troy "...Terrelle Pryor - On his performance overall: 'I thought I messed up a lot. When we sit down in the film room, I’m going to get yelled at but that’s a good thing. We all need to keep improving going into the Big Ten schedule.'... -On throwing four touchdown passes in the game, a new freshman record:
'That goes with the wide receivers and offensive lineman. Without both of them, it wouldn’t happen. It’s as much their record as it is mine. I have great teammates playing around me.'..."

Shecky Tressel jokes around in postgame commentsSeptember 20, 2008 Source: Associated Press - "Tressel will never be mistaken for a standup comedian. But after Saturday's 28-10 victory over Troy, he cracked a couple of one-liners at the expense of a reporter. In a question about how he had utilized TE Rory Nicol — the reporter pronounced it like Nicole instead of the correct Nickel — Tressel couldn't understand who the reporter was talking about. Then he figured it all out. 'Nicole? Who's she?' Tressel said to loud laughter. 'My wife's upstairs. I did not go see Nicole — I want to make that clear.'..."

This was a tie: Kurt Coleman's interception of Jamie Hampton at the OSU 7 yard line, which stopped Troy's scoring drive on the 1st possession of the 3rd quarter with OSU leading 14-10; Any one of three A. J. Trapasso second half punts all of which pinned Troy deep in their own territory: 3rd Qtr: Trapasso punt 52 yards to the Troy 7, 3rd Qtr: Trapasso punt 60 yards to the Troy 1, 4th Qtr: Trapasso punt 35 yards to the Troy 4. (Trepasso punted 7 times for a 46.6 average.)

OSU's Coleman gets his turn to pick on someone else
September 21, 2008 Source: Newark Advocate - "...Coleman's second interception (it ended Troy’s first possession of the second half when it was threatening the Buckeyes’ 14-10 advantage), however, was as difficult as they come. With Troy facing a second-and-20 at the OSU 34-yard line, Hampton attempted a deep pass down the middle. Coleman, playing a deep safety, leapt for the pass and made the catch despite being inadvertently undercut by linebacker James Laurinaitis. 'It took me about 20 seconds to realize where I was at,' said Coleman, who hit the back of his head before landing on his back. 'Once I knew that, I was good...'...Just seeing Coleman healthy creating havoc was what really pleased Tressel. '(Coleman) missed the early season a little bit. He was banged up,' Tressel said. “He flies around and adds energy to a fast defense. We are better when No. 4 is in the game.'..."

Trapasso's punts key to winSeptember 21, 2008 Source: Toldeo Blade - "After playing Troy about dead even in the first half, Ohio State led just 14-10. The Buckeyes dominated the second half by smothering Troy deep in its own end of the field and setting Pryor up on a very cushy short field. Punts by Ohio State's A.J. Trapasso in the second half backed Troy up and had the Trojans starting from their 7, 2 and 4-yard lines. Troy's average field position in the second half was its 13-yard line.'We needed some first downs in the second half and to get the ball down the field more,' Troy coach Larry Blakeney said, 'but they did a great job on special teams of keeping us pinned deep.'...Following two of his deepest kicks, Troy had to punt and set Pryor and the OSU offense up at the 27 and 37-yard lines. Both possessions resulted in quick Ohio State touchdowns. 'Those were great plays — A.J. Trapasso knocking those two punts down there,' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said."

Team Totals

FIRST DOWNS

15

17

Rushing

6

10

Passing

8

5

Penalty

1

2

NET YARDS RUSHING

97

170

Rushing Attempts

23

42

Average Per Rush

4.2

4.0

Rushing Touchdowns

0

0

Yards Gained Rushing

108

199

Yards Lost Rushing

11

29

NET YARDS PASSING

218

139

Completions-Attempts-Int

30-43-2

10-17-1

Average Per Attempt

5.1

8.2

Average Per Completion

7.3

13.9

Passing Touchdowns

1

4

TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS

315

309

Total offense plays

66

59

Average Gain Per Play

4.8

5.2

Fumbles: Number-Lost

1-0

0-0

Penalties: Number-Yards

8-80

6-46

PUNTS-YARDS

8-310

7-326

Average Yards Per Punt

38.8

46.6

Net Yards Per Punt

33.1

40.9

Inside 20

1

3

50+ Yards

2

3

Touchbacks

1

2

Fair catch

0

1

KICKOFFS-YARDS

3-174

5-319

Average Yards Per Kickoff

58.0

63.8

Net Yards Per Kickoff

48.0

46.2

Touchbacks

1

1

Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD

0-0-0

4-25-0

Average Per Return

0.0

6.2

Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD

4-68-0

1-10-0

Average Per Return

17.0

10.0

Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD

1-0-0

2-0-0

Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD

0-0-0

0-0-0

Miscellaneous Yards

0

0

Possession Time

29:50

30:10

1st Quarter

6:37

8:23

2nd Quarter

7:33

7:27

3rd Quarter

9:15

5:45

4th Quarter

6:25

8:35

Third-Down Conversions

5 of 15

3 of 11

Fourth-Down Conversions

0 of 0

0 of 1

Red-Zone Scores-Chances

1-1

2-2

Sacks By: Number-Yards

1-16

2-11

PAT Kicks

1-1

4-4

Field Goals

1-1

0-0

It was over when...Pryor hit Brian Robiskie for a 38-yard TD to give the Buckeyes some separation.
Gameball goes to... Pryor, who tossed four touchdown passes in his first start for the Buckeyes.
Stat of the game... 20-0. Ohio State is 20-0 against non-BCS opponents under coach Jim Tressel.

Captain's Corner: Pryor Impresses, But Beanie Is Missed
September 21, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "Everyone would agree that Terrelle Pryor's first start as a Buckeye was a very good performance for any quarterback, much less a true freshman. Jerry Rudzinski talks Terrelle and more in this version of the Captain's Corner..."

Baby stepsSeptember 21, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Freshman shows he belongs on the big stage...Pryor didn't win the game single-handedly...But needless to say, it was a coming-out party for Pryor, the nation's top-rated recruit...Pryor said, 'I'm just glad I'm helping out a little bit.' A little bit?...early in the fourth quarter with Troy hanging tough at 14-10: On second-and-11 from the Troy 38-yard line, Pryor...had all kinds of room to run... -- and many inexperienced mobile quarterbacks would have chosen that option. Pryor, though, waited for Brian Robiskie to break open down the middle, and delivered a strike to Robiskie's fingertips for a touchdown that broke the game open..."

Pryor Throws For 4 TDs; OSU Downs Troy 28-10September 20, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "Pryor broke Schlichter’s freshman record of three touchdowns in a single game, set vs. Purdue Oct. 14, 1978. Those were the only touchdown passes Schlichter threw that year, but that mark stood as the school’s freshman touchdown pass mark until Saturday...With Brewster making his first start at center, junior Jimmy Cordle moved from center to left guard to replace injured starter Steve Rehring. Cordle had started OSU’s last 16 games at center. 'Brewster is going to be a player,' Pryor said of his good friend and classmate...On defense, nickel back Jermale Hines started in place of linebacker Ross Homan. On the defensive front, Cameron Heyward opened at defensive tackle and Thaddeus Gibson replaced Heyward at end. Gibson joined Laurinaitis in notching sacks of Hampton for the Buckeyes...One of Pryor’s incompletions looked like it was going to go for an 89-yard touchdown to Robiskie. The play came late in the first quarter when OSU had third-and-4 on its own 11. Robiskie ran a post pattern and had his defender beaten. Pryor appeared to lead him almost perfectly, but the ball glanced off Robiskie’s hand. The play lent credence to the fact that Robiskie may not be 100 percent healthy. He has battled a shoulder injury since preseason camp..."

Is wedded bliss in the offing for Tressel, new QB?
September 21, 2008 Source: Mansfield News Journal - "Ellen Tressel can rest easier. Her husband is not having an affair with some mysterious woman named Nicole.
...If Tressel is honeymooning with anyone, it's his new No. 1 quarterback...'I didn't know he could pass like that, to be honest," said center Mike Brewster, who along with Pryor and tailback "Boom" Herron (94 yards, 20 carries) gave the Buckeyes' three freshman starters Saturday on offense. Brewster must have a short memory. They both played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio last January. Pryor was the MVP. 'I'm going to beat Brewster up,' Pryor joked when told that his throwing arm was questioned. 'I work hard all the time. It's hard to explain. I felt like I was at a different level today. All the balls coming out of my hand today felt perfect.' Not perfect, but given the Buckeyes' sorry state seven days earlier, close enough."

Offensive Notebook: Brewster New Center Of AttentionSeptember 20, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "Michael Brewster was one of the top offensive line recruits in the country last year out of Orlando, Fla. However, it was believed he was likely a year away from cracking Ohio State's starting lineup. Well, it took Brewster all of four games to get a starting spot for the Buckeyes. He got the nod in OSU's 28-10 win over Troy University on Saturday and played well. We have comments from Brewster, Jim Cordle and tailback Boom Herron..."

Pryor era begins with win over TroySeptember 20, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "The Terrelle Pryor era got off to a terrific start, a sluggish middle and then two daggers of an ending as the freshman quarterback threw four touchdown passes to lead Ohio State to a 28-10 victory over Troy today in Ohio Stadium...Not that his first start was a masterpiece, but Tressel expected a challenge from Troy...But Pryor was smooth and poised throughout, his only turnover an interception on a Hail Mary pass to the end zone on the last play of the first half, at which time OSU led 14-10...The OSU defense, ripped the week before by Southern Cal on big plays, dealt with a hurry-up, no-huddle Troy offense that made plays on occasion. But safety Kurt Coleman had two interceptions -- his first as a collegians -- to set up on OSU score in the first half and to thwart a promising Troy drive in the second half..."

Pryor's 4 TD passes lead Buckeyes, 28-10September 20, 2008 Source: Associated Press - "Terrelle Pryor has done this before, just not in college. 'I've been making plays all my life,' Pryor said. 'I'm not cocky. I'm just glad I can help out our seniors and get a win.' The acclaimed freshman, who hasn't even started classes yet, took charge of Ohio State's offense with four touchdown passes to lead the sluggish No. 13 Buckeyes to a 28-10 victory over Troy on Saturday. In the wake of an ugly 35-3 defeat at top-ranked Southern California, coach Jim Tressel had said that the nation's top quarterback recruit last spring and senior Todd Boeckman would split the job 50-50 against Troy (2-1). Instead, Pryor was first true freshman to start for the Buckeyes in 30 years, since Art Schlichter in 1978 and he ran the show for all but two plays before the game was out of reach. 'Coming off the loss to USC, I think we took a half-a-step forward,' Pryor said...'After they scored at the end of the first half to bring it to a four-point game, I thought our guys did a great job of rising up,' Tressel said. He added, 'Offensively, we've got a ways to go but we did some good things, had some new guys in there who hadn't been in there all that much before, so it was a very valuable game.'..."

What the Trojans had to saySeptember 20, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Head coach Larry Blakeney: 'We lost a ball game today, and we maybe had a chance to win there...'...On Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor: 'It looked to me like Pryor had confidence back there and he brought a different perspective to the game. When guys were open, he got it to them. We had a chance late, but we didn't make enough plays and they did.'..."

Which way, north or south?September 20, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Recent history indicates that Buckeyes can rebound from a loss, or tumble...Their national title hopes are all but dead. Their offense is in a shambles...What's done is done. The issue now for the Buckeyes is, where will they go from here? In 2004, one loss turned into three straight and a season was ruined. A year later, Ohio State rebounded from a 3-2 start to run the table, beating Michigan and Notre Dame and salvaging lost pride. With a dangerous Troy club coming to Ohio Stadium today, how will Ohio State respond?..."

Young Buckeyes pushing for playing timeSeptember 20, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Change is afoot at Ohio State, and not just at quarterback. From the offensive line to the secondary, youth is pushing experience and could spark a team coming off two down weeks...Remarkably, three games into a season that began with 19 of 22 starters returning, the Buckeyes are in flux...Nowhere is that more obvious than on the offensive line...At cornerback, former starter Donald Washington, a junior, has returned from a two-game suspension, but an interception by sophomore Chimdi Chekwa last week highlighted his cover skills...At safety, sophomore Jermale Hines has started two games for the injured Kurt Coleman, played nickel back with others out and, while less experienced, has shown more playmaking ability than either Coleman or fellow starter Anderson Russell...On the defensive line, change is constant in the four-man tackle rotation, but ends like Cameron Heyward and Rob Rose could push to see more time on the inside...At receiver, Tressel said "a ton of people run in and out," but you wonder how long it will take for freshman DeVier Posey to become more involved in the offense..."

Malcolm Jenkins on Big Ten Network's "Big Ten Tonight" Sept. 16

Ohio State football: A deficit in talent or in coaching?September 18, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "What's more to blame for Ohio State's loss to USC - a talent deficit or the way that talent was deployed? Not to sound like a coach, but both...I think USC's players, across the board, were a little better. But not 32 points better. Coaching - in preparing the players for another big game and the playcalling - helped accentuate the disparity. Jim Tressel made a point Tuesday about opponents knowing what you're doing. He said the Buckeyes ran off tackle 256 times during their national championship season in 2002. 'Now, do you think we were going to run off tackle? We ended up pretty good, but that's when you get good,' Tressel said. He won a national title with that thinking, and that's a skin you can never take off his wall. But I'm not sure that stat actually helps his case here. Against Indiana and Northwestern and San Jose State and Minnesota, when your talent edge is so drastic, you can run off tackle every play and it doesn't matter. Those guys can't stop it...I just don't know if that thinking helps you against elite teams..."

Tressel's ego would keep him calling playsSeptember 18, 2008 Source: Associated Press - "Ohio State's coaching staff is being savaged by critics on call-in shows, on blogs and in letters to sports editors. But don't look for any immediate changes. Many people are piling on head coach Jim Tressel. Even though Jim Bollman has the title of offensive coordinator, it's no secret that Tressel really runs the show — and makes all the play calls — when the Buckeyes have the ball...On Thursday, he said he would never allow someone else on his staff to call the plays. 'I don't know, maybe my ego wouldn't let me,' he said..."

TROYvs.OHIO STATE

Tressel Talks About Saturday's Game vs. TroySeptember 18, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "Head coach Jim Tressel met with the media for 15 minutes following his radio show Thursday afternoon at the WHAC. Tressel talked about his team and the challenge they face from a talented Troy squad Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium."

Tressel says Wells won't play Saturday, and doesn't name starting QBSeptember 18, 2008 Source: ESPN - "Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Thursday that Chris "Beanie" Wells, who is recovering from an injured right foot, will not play in Saturday's game against Troy. Tressel also did not name a starting quarterback. Wells practiced Wednesday, his second straight day of workouts, and Tressel said things were going better this week than last, when Wells' foot was too sore to go consecutive days. 'I think he's making progress,' Tressel said..."

Football Seniors Preview Troy Game September 19, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "Ohio State seniors Malcolm Jenkins, James Laurinaitis and A.J. Trapasso each took time this week to speak to Kendra Lee of OhioStateBuckeyes.com about the upcoming game against Troy at noon Saturday in Ohio Stadium."

Future is now for freshman QBSeptember 19, 2008 Source: Associated Press - "When he signed his letter of intent with Ohio State on March 19, Terrelle Pryor was praised as the Buckeyes' quarterback of the future.
The future is now. Pryor will not attend his first college class until Wednesday, but he is the choice of the week for coach Jim Tressel in the Buckeyes' surprising quarterback derby. In the wake of the Buckeyes' 35-3 loss...Tressel came away impressed with Pryor and down on fifth-year senior and second-year starter Todd Boeckman. He said during preparation for Saturday's game against Troy that Pryor would get most of the snaps with the top offensive unit in practice this week. Boeckman, 14-3 as a starter, suddenly is an afterthought. Pryor and Boeckman likely will split duties against Troy. Tressel said he did not know who would start...Neither quarterback was permitted to speak with reporters this week. Nor was offensive coordinator Jim Bollman..."

September 18, 2008 Source: Bucknuts.com - "We have video from ESPN's SportsCenter with ESPN.com contributor Joe Schad discussing the status of Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor and junior running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. Pryor will be getting more snaps it seems for the Buckeyes, while Wells' return to the lineup remains indefinite..."

Ohio State Welcomes Troy Saturday to Ohio StadiumSeptember 15, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "No. 13/14 Ohio State hosts Troy in a noon game Saturday, September 20, 2008, at Ohio Stadium (102,329).The game will be televised by the Big Ten Network. Members of Ohio State’s 1968 and 1973 national championship teams will be holding reunions on campus this weekend and will be recognized at halftime. This will be the first-ever meeting between Ohio State and Troy on the football field. This will also be Ohio State’s first-ever football contest with a Sun Belt Conference school: the Buckeyes have not faced Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, North Texas or Troy previously..."
Ohio State Game Notes (PDF)Troy Game Notes (PDF)

Buckeyes Getting Back At It In Practice September 16, 2008 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "A loss like the one Ohio State suffered at the hands of USC could fracture a team depending on how it responds the following week in practice. With an abundance of upperclassmen, the Buckeyes are refocusing their efforts in practice and trying to move past last weekend's disappointment against the Trojans...'You have to make sure that your guys are rallying around you,' senior captain James Laurinaitis said. 'They’re going to look up to you to see what kind of leadership you possess...'...That sense of leadership apparently was demonstrated throughout Tuesday’s practice..."

Status uncertain of Ohio State's Wells for TroySeptember 17, 2008 Source: Associated Press - "Ohio State coach Jim Tressel swears that tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells will be back this season. Yet he either doesn't know or isn't saying for sure when that will be...'I did see him sweating,' tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator John Peterson said with a grin after Wednesday night's practice. 'I saw a bunch of sweat on his head. So that was a good sign.'...Team spokeswoman Shelly Poe would only confirm that Wells practiced...Asked if Wells' mysterious injury — no Ohio State official has even hinted at its exact nature or severity, and Wells has not been permitted to speak to reporters — might require surgery, Tressel said no. Asked if there's a chance Wells might miss the rest of the season, Tressel answered, 'I have not heard that once.'...But if Wells is close to being ready to go, that's news to Ben Person. And Person starts at right guard on Ohio State's offensive line. 'I don't think he even practiced,' he said after Tuesday's practice..."

This will also mark the first meeting between Tressel and Troy head coach Larry Blakeney despite the fact they piloted two of the most successful Division I-AA programs throughout the 1990s. Youngstown State and Troy (which was then referred to as Troy State) qualified for the I-AA playoffs four times in the same season between 1993 and 2000 but never played one another.

The Trojans are 2-1-1 all-time against schools from Ohio. They last played a team from the Buckeye State in 1999, beating Cincinnati by a 31-24 score. Troy also lost to the Bearcats in 1994, and had a win and a tie in two meetings with former NAIA rival Central State.

Troy University is located in – strangely enough – Troy, Ala., located about an hour southeast of state capital Montgomery. Ohio State is winless all-time against teams from Alabama. The Buckeyes are 0-3 against Alabama and 0-1-1 against Auburn.

Troy junior center Windham Rotunda and Ohio State senior linebacker James Laurinaitis have a long family history, mostly between their fathers. Rotunda’s father, Mike, is a former world tag-team wrestling champion, often teaming with uncle Barry Windham. Laurinaitis is the son of another former world tag-team champion, Joe Laurinaitis, who was better known as Road Warrior Animal. The two fathers crossed paths in the ring on multiple occasions during their careers. Rotunda teamed with “Dr. Death” Steve Williams in 1989 to take the NWA tag titles from the Road Warriors, and also teamed with Ted DiBiasi to defeat the Road Warriors for the WWF tag titles in 1992. Rotunda also lost in matches to Animal, including being eliminated by Animal in the 1991 Survivor Series.

Game Preview: TroySeptember 18, 2008 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "No. 13 Ohio State continues its 2008 football season Saturday by returning home for a dangerous game with Troy in Ohio Stadium. BuckeyeSports.com previews the game with notes on Troy's array of talented playmakers, key players to watch and a breakdown of what might happen when the ball is in the air for the third game of the campaign..."

2008 Troy Trojans Game Preview
September 17, 2008 Source: Buckeye Planet - Analysis and more, including: "...please don't call them Troy State - the Board of Trustees officially changed the name to Troy in 2004...They won a pair of National Championships in Division II; the 12-1 season in 1984 was capped with an 18-17 title game win over North Dakota State...Troy also won the 1987 Division II Championship with a 12-1-1 mark....Troy Trojans Offensive Preview...Defensive Preview..Special Teams Preview..." (more)

Preview: OSU seeks confidence-builder against different men of TroySeptember 20, 2008 Source: ESPN - "...After suffering their worst defeat in nearly 14 years, the No. 13 Buckeyes will try to bounce back Saturday at home when they host unbeaten Troy...'It is the chance of a lifetime,' linebacker Bear Woods said of Troy's first meeting with Ohio State. 'It is a great opportunity for this program and for me.' Troy's offense is led by a pair of sophomores -- quarterback Jamie Hampton and tailback DuJuan Harris (6.7 yards per carry). Hampton threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns -- running for another score -- against Alcorn State in his second career start..."

Preview: #18 Ohio State vs. TroySeptember 19, 2008 Source: Eleven Warriors - "...Troy is going about the football program development process the same way that Miami and Florida State did years ago — by going anywhere, to play anyone...So far in 2008, the Trojans have beaten a Middle Tennessee State team that knocked off Maryland and last week absolutely blitzed Alcorn State 65-0...DuJuan Harris (#32) will see most of the totes when Troy does rush the ball. He’s tiny, listed at 5-7/190, and doesn’t appear to be as much of a receiving threat out of the backfield as you would think, given his size and the Trojans’ fondness for spreading the ball around. Junior running back Maurice Greer (#27) will see carries as well and he’s coming off a 9 carry, 113 yard performance..."

Something Resembling A Troy PreviewSeptember 19, 2008 Source: Buckeye Commentary - "GAMEPLAN: OSU Run Offense v. Troy...OSU Pass Offense v. Troy:...I do not anticipate a heavy dose of passing...Troy Run Offense v. OSU: Sophomore DuJuan Harris will get the majority of the carries when it is handed off, but QB Jamie Hampton will run it given the opportunity. Troy’s spread will mean that the OSU defense will be sporting the nickel almost entirely...Troy Pass Offense v. OSU:...Troy dinks and dunks it down the field. Most of those dinks go to Jerrel Jernigan and Kennard Burton. This type of passing game leads to a high completion percentage (66%) but a horrible third-down conversion rate (9-for-29, 31%). Getting one negative play per drive – sack, penalty, no-gain rush, or defended pass – is usually enough to derail a Trojan march..."

Troy (2-0) at Ohio State (2-1)September 18, 2008 Source: College FootballNews.com - "Why to watch: Ohio State came up with yet another big game clunker against an elite of the elite team, and now it’ll try to pick up the pieces against a Troy team good enough to capitalize on a downward trend. The Buckeyes need a great performance, not just a good one, to show that they really are worthy of being considered among the nation’s better teams after getting rolled 35-3 by USC. While next week’s Big Ten opener against Minnesota shouldn’t be a problem, the trip to Wisconsin the week after will be a certain loss unless OSU gets far crisper on offense. Troy...everything was razor-sharp in a 65-0 win over Alcorn State that could’ve been 165-0....beating Ohio State would look pretty good, too...CFN Prediction: Ohio State 31 … Troy 13 ... Line: Ohio State -2..."

Buckeye Extra GamedaySeptember 19, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "BuckeyeXtra.com delivers all you need to know about the Buckeyes’ upcoming game. Click here for everything from the top story and key factors to player spotlights and game predictions. Features include: Saturday's Game, Five Key Factors, Play of the Week, On The Edge, In The Spotlight, Meet A Buckeye, (more)..."

Across the field: TroySeptember 17, 2008 Source: BuckeyeGrove.com - "The matchup of Ohio State and USC did not live up to its billing as the "Game of the Century", but the Buckeyes must refocus quickly as a dangerous Troy team comes to Columbus this weekend. We take a look across the field at another group of upset minded Trojans looking to knock off Ohio State this week..."

Crunching The Numbers: Troy at Ohio StateSeptember 17, 2008 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "Some surprising Ohio State offensive rankings and statistical leaders are among the numbers we examine this week as the Buckeyes prepare to play host to Troy..."

Game Data: Troy at Ohio StateSeptember 17, 2008 Source: Bucknuts.com - "We are back with our Game Data page as we look at the pertinent data, depth charts, key match-ups and share a prediction on Saturday's game between Troy and No. 13 Ohio State (noon, Big Ten Network). Click this free link for more...."

Troy to prepare for two Ohio State QBsSeptember 16, 2008 Source: Dothan Eagle - "...'Regardless of what everybody thinks, they don’t have two different offenses,' Troy defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said. 'They do the same stuff. They’re going to lean more one way when one guy is in.'...'You’re not going to change your whole defense for one guy that they’ll swap in at quarterback,' Rowell said. 'You’ll make some different calls. They’re both going to do the same things.'..."

OUTLOOK: Won a hotly contested three-way battle during the spring and enters the fall as the Trojans’ starting quarterback ... In two spring scrimmages, completed 39-of-58 pass attempts for 509 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception...

OUTLOOK: Came out of spring practice as the leading candidate to serve as the Trojans’ feature back ... Will also be a candidate to replace Leodis McKelvin as the Trojans’ punt and kick returner...2007: Saw action in all 12 games as a backup running back ... Finished as the teams’ third leading rusher, with 82 carries for 372 yards ... Also had five receptions for 29 yards during the season...

OUTLOOK: Returns as one of the top linebackers in all of college football ... Is on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award. 2007: Started all 12 games for the Trojans ... Lead the team with 82 tackles, including 56 solo stops in earning first team All-Sun Belt honors...